KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 (Bernama) — The Halal Industry
Development Corporation (HDC) aims to attract RM500 million in foreign
direct investment (FDI) next year to Halal Parks located across the
country.

HDC Vice President for Industry Development Nicholas Shariff
Collins said Halal Parks received RM700 million in foreign investments
this year.

“HDC is currently in talks with some foreign parties, particularly
multinational corporations, which have shown interest to invest in the
Halal Parks.

“A few will in fact be setting up shop soon,” he told a media briefing on the development of Halal Parks, here Thursday.

According to Collins, two major international companies, F&N
and Concept Amenities from Australia, have confirmed their investment
in the Halal Parks.

F&N will build a RM300 million plant in the Pulau Indah-based
Selangor Halal Hub for the production of milk, condensed milk and
beverage products.

Meanwhile, the supplier of shampoo and body care products to
hotels and resorts, Concept Amenities, will invest about RM400 million
in a warehouse facility in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) Halal Park,
also in Pulau Indah.

“We have received a lot of overseas interest and, in fact, there
are about 50 small and medium enterprises which would operate in the
Halal Parks,” Collins said.

There were 20 Halal Parks located throughout the country developed
in cooperation with the respective state governments and the private
sectors.

Those that are already in operation include the Halal Park in the
PKFZ, Selangor Halal Hub, Pedas Halal Park (Negeri Sembilan), Serkam
Halal Food Park (Melaka) and the Tanjung Manis Halal Hub (Sarawak).

The Sungai Petani and Pengkalan Chepa Halal Food Parks are
expected to begin operations by year-end while other Halal Parks were
still in the planning stage.

Collins said the potential market for halal products was
increasing as the majority of the global population want products with
high standards of quality, hygiene and safety as required for Halal
certification.

The global halal market is worth an estimated US$1.3 trillion and is expected to achieve double-digit growth, every five years.